Showing posts with label bracelets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bracelets. Show all posts

Funky Chunky and a Cute Clasp

by Kim

 Tonight, I made a bunch of chunky bead bracelets. I make them a couple times a year, they sell pretty well for me. I like making them because I can mix everything together. I impose no design rules on myself. Before I begin, I collect chunky beads of all kinds: lampwork, metals, wood, plastic, stone, shell...whatever is in the stash. Then I string. 

 The only suggestion I have for you, if you make similar chunky bracelets, is to use two crimp tubes on each end. Usually the weight of the beads is a little more than usual, so doubling up on the crimps gives an extra measure of security.
 Because it adds one more material, I usually make button clasps for my chunky bracelets. With big buttons, I can make the clasp balance out the beads. But the thought of stringing seed beads for the loops was making me whine tonight. So, I thought how I could make a fitting clasp of different materials instead.
I had some huge lobsters....love those, and some peace sign charms. And together, they make an unusual clasp. I like it!  I could have also used a toggle bar instead of the lobster. I just thought of that right now!

 Use your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 11:51 PM 0 creative thoughts
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Bead Soup Blog Party!

by Kim

 It's Bead Soup Blog Hop time! This is my third time to play. It is always a treat to get beads in the mail, open up the package and look to see what I received with which to work. THis time, my partner is Laurie Hanna of Laurie's Jewelbox. She has a nice, organic, earthy style. Check her out and see what I sent her.


This is what she sent me. She made the lampwork focal. I never know what I am going to get when the package comes in the mail. I always hope it is something out of my normal color palette. Purples are not a palette I ever choose for myself, and I have received this palette more than once. Are my partners discussing this??


 So, I took one look at these purples and knew I had to use them all. It really is a nice palette, and one I don't normally work in. So, that adds to the challenge and the fun.

 I put Laurie's focal in the center and worked outward using all of the purples.


 The round purples are stone, so the bracelet has some weight. I love that!

 I kept the purple pearls to do a second a bracelet. The clasp Laurie sent is pretty and delicate. It didn't really fit with my first design. Which is OK. It allowed me to make two pieces. 


My normal style is usually bolder than this, so it was fun to make something quiet...more subtle...but with a little sparkle. The clasp is perfect.


Grab a cup of tea, curl up on the porch swing, and visit the rest of the participants! I know I can't wait......


Soak up a little Vitamin C!



 Hostess, Lori Anderson, PrettyThingsBlog.com


Alice Craddick,  Alice's Beads and Baubles
Alicia Marinache,  All The Pretty Things
Amanda Tibbetts,  Amanda Made
Amber Dawn Goldish, Inventive Soul
Annita Wilson,  AW Jewelry
Beti Horvath, Stringing Fool
Birgitta Lejonklou,  Create With Spirit   
Candida Castleberry,    Spinning Spun Sugar
Carolyn Lawson, Carolyn's Creations

Cassie Donlen, Glass Beadle
Cheryl McCloud,  One Thing Leads to Another
Cheryl Roe, BeadRoe
Christina Hickman, Vintage Treasures Jewelry
Christine Hendrickson,  Clamworks
Cilla Watkins, Tell Your Girlfriends
Cindy Wilson, Mommy's Dream
Cindy Wimmer, Sweet Bead Studio
Cory Celaya, Art With Moxie

Cory Tompkins, Tealwater Designs
Cris Peacock, Cris' Page
Cynthia Deis, Shiny Little Things
Cynthia Machata, Antiquity Travelers
Cynthia Wainscott, Exotic Peru
Dana Hickey, Magpie Approved
Denielle Hagerman, Some Beads and Other Things

Diane Valasek, Dragonfly Close
Doris Stumpf, Glaszwerg
Dyanne Everett-Cantrell, Dee-Liteful Jewelry Creations
Elaine Robitaille, Too Aquarius
Eleanor Burian-Mohr, The Charmed Life
Enikö Fabian, Perl-eni
Erin Prais-Hintz, Treasures Found
Heather Davis, Blissful Garden Beads
Heidi Post, Ex Post Facto Jewelry

Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
Inge von Roos, Inge's Blog
Jami Shipp, Celebrating Life
Jayne Capps, Mama's Got to Doodle
Jennifer Cameron, Glass Addictions
Jennifer Pottner, Rock Candy Beads
Jennifer VanBenschoten,  Jewelry, Art and Life

Jenny Davies-Reazor, Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jenny Vidberg, Shyme Design
Jessica Dickens, My Jewelry, My Life, Me
Jessica Klaaren, Beadful-Things by Jessica
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Joan Williams, Lilruby Jewelry
Judith Johnston, Judith Johnston
Judy Riggs, Rigglettes
Judy Turner, Silver Rains

Julie Anne Leggett, The Peaceful Bead
K Hutchinson, Jumbled Hutch
Karen Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch
Karyn Bonfiglio, Plus Size Bangles
Katherine Gale, Terra Beadworks
Kathleen Lange Klik, Modern Nature Studio
Katja Benevol Gabrijelcic, Slovonske Technobe
Kelli Jacobson, Creative Moon
Kelly Ramstack, Adventures with Kelly
Keri Lee Sereika, Pink Lemonade

Kim Bender-Hora, KimmyKat
Kirsi Luostarinen, Kirsi Luo Korut
Kitty Bozzini, Kitty Lampwork
Laura Demoya, The Bead Therapist
Laurie Hanna, Laurie's Jewelbox
Leah Curtis, Beady Eyed Bunny
Lesley Watt, The Gossiping Goddess
Linda Inhelder, Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Liddy, Metal Me This
Mallory Hoffman, For the Love of Beads
Marge Beebe, Rock Creek Creations
Marianna Boylan, Pretty Shiny Things
Marion Simmons, Shade Tree Studio
Marla Gibson, Spice Box Design
Marta Weaver, Marta Weaver Jewelry

Marti Conrad, Marti C's Clay Blog
Maryse Fritzsch-Thillens, GlassBeadArt, Lampwork Beads
Melanie Brooks, Earthenwood Studio
Michelle Hardy, Firefly Visions
Mikala Coates, Maybe Just Perhaps
Mowse Doyle, HoCArt
Nancy Boylan, Snazzy Doodle Designs
Nancy Peterson, Beading From the Heart
Nicole Rennell, Nicole Rennell Designs

Niki Meiners, 365 Days of Craft
Niky Sayers, Silver Nik Nats
Norma Turvey, Moonlit Fantaseas
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pamela Gangler, She Always Loved Pink
Patricia Johnson, Patricia L. Johnson Glass Art
Perri Jackson, Shaktipaj Designs
Raida Disbrow, Havana Beads
Renetha Stanziano, Lamplight Crafts
Shannon Hicks, Falling Into the Sky

Shannon LeVart, Miss Fickle Media
Sharon Driscoll, Right Turn Art Werks
Shelley Graham Turner, Fabric of My Life
Sherri Stokey, Knot Just Macrame
Shirley Moore, Beads and Bread
Skylar Bre'z, Brising Beads
Stacie Florer, Soul to Substance
Stacie Stamper, Park Avenue
Stacy Alderson, Iridal's Attic

Stephanie Haussler, Pixybug Designs
Stephanie Stamper, Rainy Day Designs
Suzette Bentley, Ellie's Bijoux
Tammy Jones, Jewelry Making Daily
Tanty Sri Hartanti, TJewellicious by Tanti
Terry Matuszyk, Pink Chapeau


Vonna Maslanka, Just Vonna

Posted by Kim at 12:01 AM 45 creative thoughts
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My German Bead Soup

by Kim

 I did not get into the current bead soup party over at Lori Anderson's Pretty Things blog. So, I threw it out there that I would love to exchange beads with someone, unofficially. That is how I met my new friend Doris. She is a lampworker who lives in Germany. Check out her blog, she makes great beads. I definitely got the best part of this deal. She blogged about our exchange in German and in English. Impressive!


I received a selection of beads from her. She had asked me what my fav colors are and I declined to tell, because I wanted her not to have limitations. Even so, she sent me my favorite colors! 


 I made two bracelets from the beads she sent. I used the fabulous donut bead as a focal piece for the first bracelet. I used an asymmetrical design.


 Here is the donut focal and the cute charm Doris sent.


 On one side, I used her big hole beads (that remind me of Cheerios, I love them), as sliders. They move back and forth over a section of seed beads.


 And on the other side, I used the cheerios in a different way. I also added a bead dangle at the clasp to balance out the weight of the focal when worn.


 
For the second bracelet, I braided three strands of crystal beads, adding in three spacer beads from Doris. 

 It is very sparkly! 

Three of her beads became a focal piece. I like that it is a totally different kind of focal than in the first bracelet.

And, a bonus! Doris sent me this cute birdie charm!


What a cool bead exchange we had. Interesting that we sent the same color palette and a bird to each other. Guess we were thinking spring. On her blog, you can see what I sent her and the beautiful piece she made from them.


Thank you Doris!


Put yourself out there and use your Vitamin C, you never know what great people and things will come your way.

Posted by Kim at 1:13 PM 3 creative thoughts
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Safety Pin Bracelets with the Girls

by Kim


The girls came over and made safety pin bracelets. It is so much fun to craft with them. They know exactly what they want to learn to do. We have done pop top bracelets and sewn messenger bags.

I just explain and they run with it. It took them no time at all to string 60 safety pins.

Many thanks to the Human PinBall for the beads. We appreciated them very much!


Share your Vitamin C!

Posted by Kim at 10:37 PM 0 creative thoughts
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